Hobby Quick Hits Ep.172 Watertown Card Show Review

SPEAKER 1: Hobby Quick hit delivering that breaking hobby news directly to you.

SPEAKER 1: I know those hot drops from the car shops.

SPEAKER 1: We've got you covered your host, John, a new man.

SPEAKER 1: Hello, folks. Welcome to episode 172 of Hobby Quick Hits. I was gonna do again a different show.

SPEAKER 1: But then I did my monthly Watertown Show, and I wasn't planning on doing a show review.

SPEAKER 1: But they've actually been well received and, but I still wasn't planning to do it. I wasn't gonna, I'm not gonna do necessarily a, a show review after every show I do, especially now that I'm pretty much doing at least one a month. But this show, you know, there was some different facets to it and, and different things, to it. So I wanna, I'm gonna do a, a show review.

SPEAKER 1: We'll keep it as short as sweet, as we can. But I wanted to cover, some ground about sort of the current, landscape, in my experiences. If you will. We're gonna hear from our great sponsors, the sports car Chat, then we'll get into the, releases, product release schedule and, some hobby news and then we'll talk about the Watertown Show review.

SPEAKER 2: Ok. Now, a quick word from our great sponsor followed by the new product release schedule. Then we'll go around the hobby verse to tell you all the latest hobby happenings and news. Then we'll tackle today's topic of discussion.

SPEAKER 3: Hi, this is Pat Hughes Cubs announcer. Coming to you from the Sports Card shop in beautiful New Buffalo. Michigan. The Goer family has built an incredible place here for collectors to buy, sell and trade cards and memorabilia. Be sure to stop by and let them show you around the Sports Card shop.com connecting sports athletes, the hobby and collectors around the world.

SPEAKER 4: Hi, this is Alan Pinkett and I'm here to tell you the Goer family has done it again.

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SPEAKER 4: If you're a collector, you need to check this place out. Tell them Alan sent you and get a free gift on your first visit.

SPEAKER 5: All right, let's check out this week's hobby. Wax releases. Take it away. Owen.

SPEAKER 6: Hey, guys, I for a sports car shot. Let's go the week of the, on the 14th. We have Pee Donners Choice basketball.

SPEAKER 6: P Phoenix football H two.

SPEAKER 6: We have Pee Prison, premier league soccer, top series one baseball, upper deck, clear hockey. And then starting on the 16th, we have Leaf history books, sport edition chapter one onyx, authenticate Clubhouse, lumber collection, baseball, top chrome formula and racing.

SPEAKER 6: And and then getting to the 21st we have pee court kings ba basketball, Pee Don Rash, elite WW pin Prison racing. Pieces of the past Asia five star baseball. Panini Prison basketball. On the 23rd, we have Panin impeccable football.

SPEAKER 6: Panini Prison Choice basketball.

SPEAKER 6: Panini Prison, premier league soccer choice and then moving last, but not least we had 2023 pro set metal football. And that's it for the week release to see you guys.

SPEAKER 7: Let's go round the hobby verse and catch up on this week's hobby.

SPEAKER 1: News and find out.

SPEAKER 1: All right, the Super Bowl just ended and WhatsApp me, pretty soon here about a week away from pitchers and catchers reporting and baseball beginning a new for the 2024 baseball season. So, for whatever team you root for, it's a new year. It's a new hope for postseason glory.

SPEAKER 1: And with the Texas Rangers winning their first World Series last year, you have hope for your team, although they are very good and very well deserving. But what it also means is we are just a few days away from the 2024 tops baseball release while I've often said that I don't open wax and nowhere near the level.

SPEAKER 1: I did once before a annual tradition for me is to at least open a box of the flagship top baseball, I've done it pretty much almost every year since 1979. So I'm not going to try to break from tradition at this point, although I've broken other traditions, I'm not going to break this one.

SPEAKER 1: So a new baseball season, new flagship, right around the corner, big auction news. The 90 a case never known to exist. The only one now to exist a case of 1979 1980 0 Phi not the tops, the opihi version of hockey. If you do not know it is a guy named Wayne Gretzky's rookie year, the flame famous Blue Border cards.

SPEAKER 1: This is the a case was never known to exist until this one was found. So it's the only one in existence. There is 16 boxes in this case, 48 packs per box. Yeah, that's when they used to give you lots of packs per box. By estimates, there's probably at least 25 Gretzky rookies in the case. It's at heritage auctions right now and it's up to about $2 million with a week to go.

SPEAKER 1: So it's you know, and we've seen what Gretzky nine or ten's brain graded.

SPEAKER 1: And so that's going to drive this price to the case. So if you got a, a few mil few million extra dollars burning a hole in your pocket head over to heritage auctions and snap up hopefully or win that, only existing case of, you know, 1979 ad OPG Hockey.

SPEAKER 1: We'll stay on sort of the tops, you know, tip, UFC is going back to Fanatics slash tops here. And actually this month, they held the, the, licensing for 12 years from 2009 to 2020 they lost it to Panini. Panini had it the last three years, but, tops Fanatics has acquired a multiyear deal. No specifics announced just other than the fact that it was multiyear.

SPEAKER 1: And the first product release will be here on February 28th with the 2024 tops chrome UFC. So me personally, I'm not a UFC guy but with it changing hands, I expect that to be a very popular release here at the end of the month. One final story and not a good one.

SPEAKER 1: But your help might solve the case celebrity mint which mints coins mostly silver coins for, for sports and, and events for their Mike Tyson prototype coins that were mailed in October to go to the New York Comic Con never made it. They opened an investigation that investigation after 90 days is inconclusive.

SPEAKER 1: And no, the package is nowhere to be found. Celebrity mint is offering a $10,000 reward if these coins can be. These prototype coins can be recovered again. They're Mike Tyson for prototype coins. They are great did by PC GS Certified and they're missing. So if you see these prototype versions of the Mike Tyson celebrity coins, please give a call to 7135976367.

SPEAKER 1: Now, our feature presentation.

SPEAKER 1: All right, like I said, in the opening, I really wasn't planning on doing a show review. But, you know, the show was unique enough in my experience there, enough to, to do a show review.

SPEAKER 1: So, let's talk about that. I did the monthly Watertown New York show. It's usually the second Saturday of every month in the fe convention center building and a new show started at the end of 2023. I, I didn't do it in the initial couple months but have done it, I think since December of 2023 and haven't missed yet. The, the unique difference with this month's show is the promoter Andrew and his partner.

SPEAKER 1: They were getting a lot of, they were getting a dealer waiting list for tables, so they decided to open it up to a second room. So there was more tables, more dealers and so going into this one and I've had some very good shows for being at a, a smaller type venue and show.

SPEAKER 1: I've done very, very well or very on par with my big Syracuse shows quite frankly, between selling my cards in the SCC submission table and that is really, we're gonna talk a little more about it, but that is starting to pick up even more steam for this show.

SPEAKER 1: So, they opened up a second room to accommodate more dealers and, you know, being I've had so many of these have been great in a row. I, I really kind of, I'm preparing sort of for a dud. That's just how kind of my mind works, right, wrong or indifferent.

SPEAKER 1: That's just, you know, I kind of prepare for the worst and, and hope for the best. So I figured, hey, we're due for sort of you know, a not as great show if, if you will, would it open it up more rooms, you know, many of the dealers that that would be set up, would that would have been customers prior.

SPEAKER 1: So that changes that dynamic. And so I was, you know, a little bit, I don't, I guess pessimistic not super strong pessimistic, but a little bit concerned that this might be a, a down show compared to the last three or four or three that I've, I've done there.

SPEAKER 1: So went in there kind of thinking that also it was kind of down because the SGC submission, which normally is back in time to bring it up and take that hour drive and have people pick up their SGC graded cards. They are getting kind of crushed right now. And so, you know, at the time of this recording, it will be here tomorrow but did not arrive before the show.

SPEAKER 1: So I, you know, I've got a group email and I kind of let everyone know, unfortunately SGC is trying to play catch up and I won't have your card.

SPEAKER 1: So I thought, man, you know, that's gonna be sort of a downer two because many people who sub through me, through the bulk subbing, you know, we'll pick up their previous month's order and then sub, you know, car while picking up the one order, they're already subbing cards for the following order. That's kind of, you know, they get their graded cards and they submit their raw cards for the next order.

SPEAKER 1: And I thought without this degraded cards being back in time, you know, that could sort of put a, a little bit of a debt into, you know, cards I receive. And, you know, it might, people might just say, well, I'll wait till my first order comes back and then I'll, I'll sub more cards, but frankly, the opposite happened.

SPEAKER 1: Even people who were in on that order who didn't come in in time still came to the show and still sub some ra cards for this order. And many of them just said, hey, listen, hopefully this one comes back. Timely like SGC had been prior to the this month's order.

SPEAKER 1: And I'll just pick up both orders next month at the, at the next Watertown Show. So people Kudos to folks on this folk of for the most part, 99% of them were very cooper and understanding, you know, many of them came up to me at the show and said, hey man, we know, you know, it's not your fault, John. We, we get it.

SPEAKER 1: So you know, which is very cool when, when you get that sort of reaction, right? That could go a whole different way, even though it's not my fault. You know, some people don't grasp that concept all the time, but these folks have and appreciative of that in their business and, and patronage. So so we'll we'll we'll catch up there.

SPEAKER 1: But again, set a Watertown Show record for subs and, and to do that on the heels of an order not being back in time is, is saying something. So there's definitely some a groundswell of momentum with my folks of business through as she c and specifically the Watertown Show. I haven't done it hasn't been a fairground show.

SPEAKER 1: Since the Mega show in December, we got one coming up here in March here, which will be at a smaller venue because the promoter Lynn Lake show alumni could not get the, the fairgrounds for March. And he had already, you know, planned on doing a March So, so we're gonna do it at a smaller, venue, pare down less dealers.

SPEAKER 1: We'll see how that goes. It's gonna be on a Saturday. Normally that fairground shows on a Sunday, that part, I'm very optimistic about it. I, I, I'll say this till the cows come home. A Saturday show. Anytime I've done a Saturday show, 80% of the time.

SPEAKER 1: It's, to me it's a better show than a Sunday show in terms of, p attendance, in terms of money being spent, which kind of goes hand one hand, you know, they kind of go together, not all the time, but for the most part. So love is at a show. It still gives people and myself right Sunday to relax. You know, people have a normal kind of work schedule if you like, I can't, you know, I want to paint again with that broad brush.

SPEAKER 1: But, you know, people work Monday through Friday. So it gives, it gives them Sunday sort of recover, spend time with family, get ready for the work week. So that show will be a Saturday like the Watertown traditionally is. But because of that Watertown and they were kind of with each other.

SPEAKER 1: Watertown is going to had been scheduled for the same Saturday. They're moving their show to the Sunday. So that'll be March 2nd and 3rd March second and Syracuse at the spinning wheel, banquet hall and March 3rd, the Watertown Show. Which is going into a bigger room, but it'll be one room and that'll be on the following day on Sunday.

SPEAKER 1: So that'll be kind of unique to me doing two different shows on consecutive weekend days. And this old guy, it's getting a little bit but, you know, it, it is what it is. Right. Well, they're still fun. I have a blast, and enjoy doing it. So let's get back into the, the Watertown Show.

SPEAKER 1: I kind of covered the SGCBO and so I, I won't beat AAA Great Dead horse there, but did very well there considering the circumstances and really had a great show on on the sales side again, Heavy vintage, which I really need to try to replenish anyone listening out there, some off grade vintage stars and semi stars. You're looking to move, contact me. I don't often do this on this show.

SPEAKER 1: There's beg for cards, but I will make an exception. I do need some off grade vintage for my vintage box, which is done tremendously the last few months to the point where I need to really restock it, replenish it, refreshing it up. So if you can be of some assistance, get a hold of me through Social Media email.

SPEAKER 1: What have you anyway, smoke signals anyway, you can. So vintage did very well, but so so modern to very strong their attendance was very good show. Started off kind of slow. So the doors open at nine, I don't know what happened. I've, I've set up with my two friends, Chad and Nick.

SPEAKER 1: We were all kind of together and, you know, my friend Nick who was out in front of my table and I've still put my cards in my showcase. He's like, dude, you're gonna finish the, the, we're, we're open, doors are open, people are coming in and I don't know what it was like, I lost track of time. I wasn't like twiddling my thumbs, but I don't know, I just, I guess I couldn't get into gear.

SPEAKER 1: Normally. I'm, I'm done with 30 minutes to spare and, and so I was had to hustle and, and really quickly get carved out. I always Windex my cases quickly did that. So kind of got done at 915, 920. I don't know what happened. It was, I, you know, I joked like, I must have got abducted by a UFO and lost track of an hour.

SPEAKER 1: I wasn't there late. I got there on, on at the normal time. I normally do. I just, it was odd. So, that happened, I have a new, hand truck that I employed. Big difference from my old one, which stuff kept falling off. This is one of those kind of utility carts that can be a stand up hand truck or a rolling car.

SPEAKER 1: I used it as the rolling cart form to let my friends use it as well. At the end of the show to bring their stuff out. And, I'm always the one of the last ones to leave just to, I, I kind of pack up methodically so, but its show started slow.

SPEAKER 1: I guess it matched my speed in getting set up. But, you know, it was about 1015, 1030 I was kind of thinking to myself like, yeah, I guess my prediction for kind of a down show looks like it's becoming a reality and no sooner than I said that it just really picked right up.

SPEAKER 1: I mean, people started really coming in, SCC Table was hopping, did some big sales. I made three or four big sales probably in the span of 60 minutes and, and right there sort of, my show was sort of made and it was still only 1130 1145.

SPEAKER 1: And so, you know, the la I've done these shows long enough. You, you never know it, it, things can happen quick, things can go 0 to 60 very fast. Doesn't always happen like that. Nothing. Nothing in life is guaranteed except, taxes and, you know what?

SPEAKER 1: And so you, you never assume, but, you know, when it was quiet, I'm like, man, I hope it picks up otherwise, you know, that kind of what I thought was gonna happen is gonna happen. But nice turn in events.

SPEAKER 1: I didn't see a ton of people selling. I had one gentleman with three bo you know, three like 800 count boxes.

SPEAKER 1: A lot of prospects, a lot of autograph prospects. So I kind of staying away from that stuff, not that there's anything wrong with it, but for me, like I said, I'm really slamming more to the vintage side of the house.

SPEAKER 1: But my buddy, Nick did wind up making that purchase. I got a pretty good deal on those. It just wasn't in the market for me, but he, he got a good deal to add to his inventory. And Nick is kind of just starting getting into, I've known him for 20 years, but he's just starting to get into the show. He's always collected cards, but as a dealer, he's, he's in his first year or two.

SPEAKER 1: And so this is the point where you need to bulk up your, your inventory, which he's starting to do it, you know, you know, 30 something years into doing shows. So yes, I do have to replenish but I sort of have that nice base to, to kind of start with. So good for Nick speaking to Nick. He, he built a, you know, you might have seen if you follow me on Social Media. Me and my dad built a stand up graded card case.

SPEAKER 1: I did a lot of the work with my dad getting older. He kind of just supervised. I'm not a handy man. I'm not a wood worker, so it came out. Ok.

SPEAKER 1: But net in his, his 9 to 5 job is a floor. Works with flooring and in hardwoods. And he made my friend, Chad, our mutual friend, Chad, we've all known each other 20 years just to give you a quick background. He made Chad a stand up graded card and actually holds top or just a card case holds about 24 cards and using flooring.

SPEAKER 1: So it looks very thick wood, very sharp but light at the same time, stands on the edge of the table. So he creates a lot of space while, you know, showing off 24 cards available for sale can be clamped to the table. So when I saw that and I looked at mine which is taller, that one's a little bit longer. So you can see over mine is taller where you can't, you can see through it through the slats, but you can't see over.

SPEAKER 1: I got jealous and I, I said, Nick, can you, if I, you know, pay you can you make those? He goes, yeah, just buy the plexiglass to the size you want it and I'll make it. So, I literally left the show in Watertown New York drove two miles to Ace Hardware and bought 324 by 36 plexiglass sheets. Snapped a photo, texted, my buddy said I'm ready.

SPEAKER 1: You know, so we'll meet up, I'll get him those three plexiglass sheets. And so my next show that I talked about those March shows, I should have three new end to table stand up cases to put more cards out. So, that'll be cool. They'll, they're definitely look nicer than the monstrosity I put together while it was functional. Aesthetically, w, was not going to win any awards.

SPEAKER 1: But again, I wanna, you know, going back to the show, Kudos to the Andrew and his partner and putting on a great, you know, iii, I know I keep calling it a smaller show. But man, it's, it's, I guess it's a smaller show that, that dresses up as a big show. If I been tremendously pleasantly surprised with how the show has, has been for me.

SPEAKER 1: And I'm starting to get to know people and they're getting to know me and we're kind of building that, that repertoire, especially in the stc, bulk subside of the house. But even, even on the card, side of the house too, even. So the couple complete sets of the last few that I had left and, you know, something I had, you know, doesn't, didn't necessarily happen. And at, at, at some of the other shows I did.

SPEAKER 1: So, you know, very, very happy. So, we're gonna, we're gonna wrap up this episode there. But, like I said, I wasn't planning on doing a show review, but this show, I think sort of warranted me sort of covering it and sharing some of those insights from the show for. So we'll see in a couple of weeks, here with another, Hobby Quick Kids episode. Probably the one that was supposed to be today.

SPEAKER 1: We'll, so we'll see you, next time. All right. Thank you for listening to another episode of Hobby Quick. Its wanna give out our Social Media starting with our website, which is www dot sports Carnation podcast.com, Facebook.

SPEAKER 1: You can follow us at www.Facebook.com forward slash Sports Card Nation podcast, forward slash Twitter. We are at Sports Card, nat T one. So, it's Sports Card. Nat I one Instagram at Sports Car Nation Podcast. Or you can email the show Hobby Quick hits at gmail.com again. Thanks for listening. We'll see you next week.